Process for handling fabric



F. J. CLENDENING, JR

PROCESS FOR HANDLING FABRIC Feb. 14, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1958 Big-2c R O T m M CH J W N E D N E I- c a J ATTORNEY F. J. CLENDENING, JR 2,971,241

PROCESS FOR HANDLING FABRI Feb. 14, 1961 Filed March 51, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANCIS .1. CLENDENING, JR.

Feb. 14, 1961 F. J. CLENDENING, JR 2,971,241

PROCESS FOR HANDLING FABRIC Filed March 31, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 V l/ )1 2| 0 o o M. I 0

o o 1 M 0 24 l i 20 25 F1 .4 2o 5 n m l k l a h f e 9 d c b 0 WUU g 22 Q yooq D INVENTOR l3 BY @A/ ATTORNEY FRANCIS J. CLENDENING, JR.

PROCESS non HANDLING FABRIC Francis J. Clendening, Jr., Wilmington, DeL, assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and ompany, Wilmington, Del, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 31, 1 95s, Ser. No.'725,tl7tl 1 Claim. or. 26-1 This invention relates to a process for loading textile fabric onto a rotary treating apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved process for forming a closed length of fabric comprised of a plurality of layers of the fabric and thereafter loading the fabric onto a rotary carrier.

In order to obtain uniformity in fabric dyeing and finishing operations, it is desirable to suspend the fabric in. an open .width while passing it through a treating solution. Processes and apparatus for suspending fabric in this manner are known. US. application Serial No. 347,263, filed April 7, 1953, now US. Patent 2,869,976, describes a process and apparatus for treating fabric in which a rotary carrier is used. A loading device and a process utilizing multiple layers of a fabric which are madeup and fed to the rotary carrier from a single pan are described in Cole US. Patent 2,826,479. Although the method and apparatus described in the patent eliminate many of the problems inherent in the so-called parallel loading of rotary carriers in which each of a plurality of lengths of fabric makes a complete wrap around the carrier, they have not proved to be entirely satisfactory.

In using the prior art processes and equipment, considerable difiiculty has been experienced in obtaining uniform tension of the various layers during make-up and preventing appreciable slack between adjacent fabric layers with consequential wadding and bunching of the fabric at intervals along the carrier which prevents uniform treating. In addition, the prior art processes and equipment are not conducive to ease of handling and expedient operation during loading of the fabric onto the rotary carrier, and therefore have been unattractive in view of economic considerations.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved process for loading fabric onto a rotary carrier. Another object of this invention is to provide a process for preforming the fabric into a continuous multiple layered loop of a desired length which is ready for loading onto .a rotary carrier without the need for adjusting tension between the various layers of fabric. A further object of this invention is to provide a method for loading a plurality of layers of a fabric from a series of pans or trays onto a rotary carrier. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The objects of the present invention are accomplished by a process which comprises forming a closed length of fabric consisting of a plurality of predetermined lengths arranged in adjacent conjoined relationship and thereafter arranging the fabric onto a rotary carrier in a Zigzag pattern which is substantially symmetrical when viewed along the axis of the carrier. Briefly, the process includes preforming a loop of predetermined length consisting of a plurality of single layers of fabric. The major portion of each of the layers is deposited at a series of separate, essentially parallel positions while the minor portions of each of the layers are arranged in contiguous parallel relationship in the same order. In general, the fabric is fed from a supply beam or mandrel into a plurality of compartments or trays. After a predetermined length of 2,971,241 Patented Feb. 14, 1961 fabric is measured into one compartment, the fabric is indexed to a point without cutting, and loading into a second compartment proceeds. A continuous loop of fabric is formed during each sequence of operation, each succeeding loop of fabric being positioned in an essentially concentric relationship with the preceding loop. The major portions of the layers are brought into superimposed contiguous parallel relationship as the fabric is Withdrawn from the .various compartments and loaded onto the carrier.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification. In the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of this invention:

Figure l is a schematic side elevational view of the apparatus used in forming the continuous loop of fabric; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative form of apparatus for forming a loop of the material; Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are diagrammatic illustrations showing the various stages of forming the loop of material with the apparatus shown in Figure 2; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a rotary carrier (not loaded); Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the material being loaded onto the rotary carrier; and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration showing an alternative means for loading the fabric onto the rotary carrier.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures, and starting with Figure l a supply beam or mandrel 1 is elevated by means not shown into a position for unwinding fabric 2. A yardage counter 3 is placed in position adjacent to surface 4 of mandrel 1 and a truck 5 is positioned beneath mandrel 1 to receive the fabric. The sides 6 of truck 5 are grooved to receive a plurality of removable dividers a, b, c, d, 2, etc. The truck 5 is first positioned to receive fabric into the compartment formed by end wall 7 and divider a. (At this point, the remaining dividers are not positioned into slots as illustrated in the figure.) The supply mandrel l. is then driven by means not shown until a predetermined length of fabric measured by counter 3 is fedinto the compartment. The fabric is marked at point 9 and is then passed over removable idlers 10 and 11, passed back into truck 5, inside end wall 8, along the bottom of the truck to a point adjacent to divider a, and then along a path adjacent to divider a. Care is taken to maintain point 9 at a preselected position on idler Til. Removable divider b is then placed into position. The sequence: of events previously described is then repeated. in positioning the fabric over idlers lit and li. a similar removable idler is inserted under the new layer of fabric, the idler in position is removed and the new idler inserted into the position vacated by the old idler. The aforementioned operations are re'peated until the desired number of layers of fabric are obtained.

Referring to Figure 2, a mandrel I, driven by variable speed motor 12, is positioned adjacent and above truck 13 which is comprised of a plurality of removable trays a, b, c, d, e, etc., which are arranged in adjacent parallel sloping relationship. A yardage counter 3 is placed in contact with surface 4 of mandrel l. A curved feed pan i4 is attached to the removable trays as shown in Figures 2, 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d. Referring to Figure 2a, the supply mandrel l is then rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, and the fabric 2 is directed along the surface of feed pan 14 and removable tray a. Each tray has a lip 15 which prevents the fabric from sliding from the tray as the fabric builds up the tray. The end it; of fabric 2 is then aligned at indexing position 17 and secured by a simple spring clip, not shown. After a predetermined length of fabric has been fed to the tray, rotation of the supply mandrel is stopped, and the fabric is marked at point 9. Rotation is again started and the fabric at point 9 is secured at indexing position 17 as shown in Figure 2b. The fabric is then placed in U-shaped members 18 and 19 as shown in Figure 2c. Removable tray b and feed pan 14 are placed in position as shown in Figure 2c. The previously described operation is repeated with the fabric building up on tray b as shown in Figure 2d. Successive layers of fabric are positioned under and in contact with the layer in U-shaped members 18 and 19. After a predetermined length of material has been fed onto tray b, rotation of the mandrel is stopped, the fabric is marked and indexed to position 17, and tray c' is inserted. These operations are repeated until the desired number of layers of material are obtained. After the desired number of layers of material are obtained, the fabric may be severed from the supply roll. Alternatively, if the supply roll is exhausted before the desired number of layers are obtained, the end of the fabric may be attached to the end of fabric from a fresh supply roll and the operations described above repeated.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of rotary carrier 20 which is mounted on axle 21. The carrier is driven by means not shown. The carrier is comprised of tWocircular flanges 22 and 22, each being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the-axle. A set of circular bars 23 is fixedly mounted near the periphery of the flanges. Another set of bars 24 is provided to be removably positioned in slots 25 near the center of the flanges.

' Referring to Figure 4, truck is shown positioned adjacent to rotary carrier 20. The loop of multiple layers of fabric suspended by removable idlers and .11, as shown in Figure 1, is slipped over the end of carrier 20. Access to the end of carrier 20, upon which the fabric is loaded, may be facilitated by cantilevering or counter-weighting it sufficiently to free one end from any further external support. If a removable support is used, sufficient space between the support and the end of carrier 20, to permit convenient positioning of the fabric before replacement, should be provided.

As shown in Figure 4, the layers of fabric are posi tioned over fixed bars 23. Removable bars 24 are inserted in slots 25 and secured near the center of the axis of the carrier as the fabric is fed to the carrier and the carrier rotated, thus positioning the fabic about the carrier in a zigzag fashion. As the carrier is rotated, the fabric can be pulled from the truck and placed on the carrier by hand without difiiculty. If extremely heavy fabrics are being treated, pull rollers, not shown, may be utilized to facilitate loading the carrier. When most of the fabric has been removed from the compartments, dividers a through n are removed and the remaining material positioned on the carrier. The ends of the fabric are stapled or sewed to the adjacent layer of fabric to prevent unwinding during the treating operation.

Referring to Figure 5, truck 13 is positioned adjacent to rotary carrier 20. The loop of fabric is positioned over the carrier as previously described and with the threading through bars 23 and 24 being accomplished in a manner as previously described. After most of the material is removed from the trays, the trays are removed from their position on truck 13 to permit the positioning of the remaining material. As shown in Figure 5, the nip rollers 26 and 27 and idler roller 28 may be used to facilitate the removal of the fabric from truck 13 and positioning the fabric on carrier 20.

Various modification in the apparatus of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art. For example, 'the idlers which are used to support the fabric during make-up may consist of round bars positioned in a suitable saddle or they may be mounted for rotation in suitable bearings. Additional means may be provided for directing the fabric into the compartments or onto the trays in a uniform pattern. The use of idler rollers or bars is preferred; however, U-shaped supports may be used effectively. In using the U-shaped supports it is, of course, necessary that the layers of fabric be straightened before loading them onto the carrier.

In constructing the apparatus of this invention, it is desired that all parts in which the fabric comes in contact be smooth and of a sufiiciently hard material to prevent abrasion and give long-wearing characteristics to the apparatus. The dimensions, for example the spacing of the trays or compartments, will depend in part on the weight of the fabric to be loaded on the carrier.

The primary advantage of this invention resides in the fact that the fabric is measured from the supply mandrel in a totally relaxed and tension-free condition, and each loop length is controlled and measured in an identical manner. This invention eliminates the sandwiching of layers individually in the loop by providing separate compartments or trays, thus preventing different tensions among the various layers due to the differential speeds inherent in prior art loading methods. This, in turn, avoids any appreciable slack between adjacent layers. In addition, the necessity for wetting the fabric layers or tacking the layers together, as described in the prior art, is eliminated.

Another advantage of this invention resides in the fact that a simple and economical method of loading a continuous loop of fabric onto a rotary carrier is achieved. The present invention eliminates the necessity for the use of an extra make-up container since the multiple layer loop is made up and fed to the carrier in the same loading container. I a

The novel process of this invention may be used to load fabrics onto rotary carriers for various processing operations such as dyeing, finishing, heat treating, and other dry and wet treatments of fabrics in a continuous manner. The invention is not limited by the weight or type of fabric. It may be used effectively for fabric prepared from both synthetic and natural materials. In addition, flexible materials other than fabrics may be treated using the process and apparatus of this invention.

It will be apparent that many widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore it is not intended to be limited except as indicated in the appended claim.

I claim:

A process for forming a plurality of superimposed layers of fabric from a continuous length of fabric which comprises successively withdrawing predetermined lengths of fabric from .a single supply source, collecting the major portion of each of said lengths at separate, essentially parallel positions in the order in which said lengths are withdrawn from said source, arranging said major portions side by side in a plaited configuration, arranging the minor portions of said lengths in superimposed relationship in the same order as said major portions to form interjacently disposed closed loops of said fabric,

and thereafter bringing the major portions of said layers Into superimposed relationship while loading said fabric onto a rotary carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,006,784 Payet Oct. 24, 1911 1,626,439 Voegeli Apr. 26, 1927 1,799,713 Walker Apr. 7, 1931 1,997,220 Killgore Apr. 9, 1935 2,374,332 Crawford Apr. 24, 1945 2,610,759 Slade Sept. 16, 1952 2,826,479 Cole Mar. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 483,405 Italy July 30, 1953 484,054 'Italy Aug. 26, 1953 

